Thelma Risley Obituary

Thelma Risley attended Coast Union High School in Cambria, CA. View the obituary, post a memory, or share a photo about Thelma Risley.

Graduation Year	Class of 1971
Date of Passing	Dec 18, 2021
About	Malena Jackson Yesterday at 6:42 PM · 1953 – 2021 Thelma Doty went to be with her belated husband Lou Doty on Saturday, December 18th, while at Villa Maria Hospital in Santa Maria. At this time, I like to envision Lou waiting for her with open arms and her having the ability to run to him... They embrace!!! All is well!! Thelma was born December 17, 1953; in Oklahoma, but life had other plans for her. While she; her brother and sisters were still young, her mother, Edna, met and later married Charles “Chuck” Knauer and moved her family to Cayucos, CA. Let the step family rivalry begin. Nah... Life was not easy for Thelma. But no matter what came her way, she always had a heart for animals and those less fortunate. She's been known to fix meals and give blankets / clothing to them. In 1971 she had a love child Malena with John Faulkner. She's named her after a Dolly Parton song. Sadly, this relationship came to pass Then in 1972, Donald Risley was born with Danny Shipman. This relationship ended too. And in 1974, she had her last child while married to Fred Morrow; Joseph Morrow aka "Butterball". After a few years this relationship ended too. Thelma continued to live in Nebraska for approximately 10 years. During this time, she worked as a waitress and met Lou Doty, a retired veteran. If you could ask her, she would tell you, he was "The love of her life!" They later married and moved to various cities within Texas where she worked as a waitress, hotel manager, chicken farm manager, and later homemaker. However, in 2005, She and Lou were living in Port Arthur and were forced to relocate to Lufkin, TX due to hurricane Katrina. Lou remained in a nursing home until he passed in 2006. She remained in Texas until 2014 where she moved to San Luis Obispo County California. Thelma is survived by her daughter Malena, Granddaughter Stephanie, Sons Donald and Joe and their families. Her Sisters: Adeline Rayner, Athena Cross, Margie Fitzsimmons and brother Michael Knauer. As well as many grandchildren, nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her husband Lou Doty, mother Edna Knauer, dad Joe Risley, brother Joe Risley Jr “Sonny”, brother Danny Knauer and sister Florine. In leu of flowers please send donations to “Wounded Warrior Project”: https://support.woundedwarriorproject.org/ Phone 855.448.3997 May be an image of 1 person and indoor 6Jesse Cross and 5 others 7 Comments 1 Share Like Comment Malena Jackson Yesterday at 6:42 PM · 1953 – 2021 Thelma Doty went to be with her belated husband Lou Doty on Saturday, December 18th, while at Villa Maria Hospital in Santa Maria. At this time, I like to envision Lou waiting for her with open arms and her having the ability to run to him... They embrace!!! All is well!! Thelma was born December 17, 1953; in Oklahoma, but life had other plans for her. While she; her brother and sisters were still young, her mother, Edna, met and later married Charles “Chuck” Knauer and moved her family to Cayucos, CA. Let the step family rivalry begin. Nah... Life was not easy for Thelma. But no matter what came her way, she always had a heart for animals and those less fortunate. She's been known to fix meals and give blankets / clothing to them. In 1971 she had a love child Malena with John Faulkner. She's named her after a Dolly Parton song. Sadly, this relationship came to pass Then in 1972, Donald Risley was born with Danny Shipman. This relationship ended too. And in 1974, she had her last child while married to Fred Morrow; Joseph Morrow aka "Butterball". After a few years this relationship ended too. Thelma continued to live in Nebraska for approximately 10 years. During this time, she worked as a waitress and met Lou Doty, a retired veteran. If you could ask her, she would tell you, he was "The love of her life!" They later married and moved to various cities within Texas where she worked as a waitress, hotel manager, chicken farm manager, and later homemaker. However, in 2005, She and Lou were living in Port Arthur and were forced to relocate to Lufkin, TX due to hurricane Katrina. Lou remained in a nursing home until he passed in 2006. She remained in Texas until 2014 where she moved to San Luis Obispo County California. Thelma is survived by her daughter Malena, Granddaughter Stephanie, Sons Donald and Joe and their families. Her Sisters: Adeline Rayner, Athena Cross, Margie Fitzsimmons and brother Michael Knauer. As well as many grandchildren, nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her husband Lou Doty, mother Edna Knauer, dad Joe Risley, brother Joe Risley Jr “Sonny”, brother Danny Knauer and sister Florine. In leu of flowers please send donations to “Wounded Warrior Project”: https://support.woundedwarriorproject.org/ Phone 855.448.3997 May be an image of 1 person and indoor 6Jesse Cross and 5 others 7 Comments 1 Share Like Comment Share